Judy Devlin Hashman
National Titles:
Women's Singles Champion (12) : 1954, 1956-1963, 1965-1967
Women's Doubles Champion (12): 1953-1955, 1957-1963, 1966-1967
Mixed Doubles Champion (7): 1956-1959, 1961-1962, 1967
International Titles:
All-England Singles Champion (10): 1954, 1957-1958, 1960-1964, 1966-1967
All-England Doubles Champion: (7) 1956-1959, 1961-1962, and 1967
Swedish, Danish, Irish, English, and German National Singles Champion, many times
Uber Cup Team: played #1 singles and #1 doubles: 1957, 1960, 1963, 1966, 1969 (record: 20 wins out of 21 matches)
1960-Uber Cup Team Championship, Champion USA
Awards:
1963-USA Badminton "Hall of Fame"
1963-Helms National Nadminton "Hall of Fame"
1966-Ken Davidson Sportsmanship Award
1986-International Badminton Federation Distinguished Service Award
1995-1st woman inducted into International Women's Sports "Hall of Fame" in New York
1997-International Badminton Federation "Hall of Fame"
So let's have a look at USA Badminton's greatest female athlete: powerful, consistent, accurate, fit par excellence, and stoic behavior.
Judy began playing badminton at age seven at the Gilman School gym on Saturday mornings, in Baltimore, Md. After training solely with her father ( J. Frank Devlin, winner of 18 All-England Championships from 1920-1930) for years, she dreamed of possible championships. At fifteen she anxiously looked forward to entering her first US Nationals. However, at the time, fifteen year-old-juniors were not allowed to compete at US Nationals until they reached their sixteenth birthday. So she watched the competition from the sidelines and followed her favorite players, Dave Freeman and Martin Mendez, dreaming of next year. To this day the decision of not allowing younger players to compete at the Nationals upsets her. The next year she turned sixteen and became eligible to play but had another disappointment because she was unable to travel to the West Coast. Judy states that during her early competition days she was highly motivated and inspired by other players, especially Ethel Marshall. "As a player I must mention Ethel Marshall as she was my 'target.' If I ever wanted to achieve anything I had to be able to overcome Ethel, and I am forever grateful that she posted such a high standard and made me work so hard."
At the time of Judy's competitive days there were no World Championships as such or Olympics. However, the one tournament in which all the world's top players competed was the All-England Championships. She states, "The All-England Championships were the number one event in the world, the one you had to win. It was our ‘Wimbledon, or Masters'. The All-England was the be-all and end-all of all badminton players." Judy achieved a remarkable record at the All-England Championships by winning an impressive 10 Women's Singles Championships and 7 Women's Doubles Championships. Throughout her career she did not shy away from competitions and entered as many US tournaments as possible, traveling across to the West Coast and back across the US to the East Coast. She entered tournaments throughout Europe, Germany, the Netherlands, and all events held in England, as well as events in Canada, and Jamaica. She was unbeaten worldwide for five years, 1959-1964.
In 1954, she was selected along with Margaret Varner and two top English women to tour Asia and introduce badminton to women in Singapore and India. Throughout her badminton career she experienced many firsts and received numerous top honors and titles. She has been a guest on the TV show, "I've Got A Secret," hosted by Gary Moore; listed as outstanding "Young Women of America" in 1967; listed in the Guinness Book of Records; featured on radio shows; took part in BBC TV Instructional Series, "Better Badminton," 1979; authored several books, distinguished lecturer, and teacher of badminton and tennis at various schools in England impacting over 150,000 students.
The Walk of Fame director asked Judy to list her greatest badminton achievement. She stated, "It is impossible to list only one." So here are her top five achievements. Judy states, (1) "Being the daughter of 18 times All-England Champion (Frank Devlin), being solely taught by my father, and being keen and eager to play; (2) Winning the 1953 National Women's Doubles Title with my sister Sue Devlin Peard; (3) Taking a 24-hour propeller flight to England in 1954, suffering from swollen ankles, unable to practice, having no scouting reports of opponents, and finally returning home with the All-England singles and doubles titles; (4) Winning the 1960 Uber Cup in America and having the trophy's donor, Mrs. Betty Uber, present the trophy; (5) My fifth greatest moment is winning the All-England women' singles championship for the tenth time. When I reached my 31st birthday, I had already decided to make this my last competitive year and retire. I wanted to go out on top and I did, at the age of 31."
Judy's training schedule was quite different from today's players. During her playing days, players held full time jobs so training was limited. Her practices included intense daily one-hour sessions, mostly training against men and jumping rope. Scheduling court time was very difficult and her full time job limited her ability to increase her training time. In 1960, she married and moved to England. This move forced her to change her practice routine, and emphasis was placed on practicing certain shots or series of 2-3-4 shots over and over again. Her training sessions were always finished with a proper put-it-all-together again game. She always pushed herself, increasing her intensity. She states about her training, "I loved practicing, pitting myself against the shuttle, the net, and the lines of the court. After practice I felt indestructible!"
In addition to her badminton athletic career she excelled in other sports. From 1954-1960 she was a member of the US Women's Lacrosse Team, and also a member of the Junior Wightman Tennis Cup Squad.
She married Dick Hashman in 1960 and has two sons, Geoff and Joe. So what did she take from badminton? " Badminton had a total impact on my life. I met my husband in Scotland. Almost all my friends are from sport and most especially badminton. In the amateur days we were all great friends. I still stay in touch with opponents in the USA, France, Denmark, India, Malaysia, New Zealand and Ireland." She is currently retired from sport participation and enjoys gardening, bridge, and lots of reading.
